Novel skin care composition

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the field of skin care. More particularly, the invention relates to a cosmetic or therapeutic skin care composition comprising live bacteria of at least one Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) strain in combination with a solubilizer that specifically supports their viability during storage and/or their ability to replicate after application to the skin. Preferably, the cosmetic or therapeutic skin care composition comprises bacteria of at least one C. acnes strain selected from the group consisting of D1, A5, C1, C3, H1, H2, H3, K1, K2, K4, K6, K8, K9, L1, and F4. The invention also provides a method for treating or preventing acne by applying the skin care composition of the invention to a skin area in need of treatment. The invention also relates to the use of a skin care composition of the invention for treating or preventing acne.

1 . Skin care composition for topical administration to the skin comprising
 (a) lyophilized or spray-dried live bacteria of at least one  Cutibacterium acnes  ( C. acnes ) strain; and   (b) PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil as a solubilizer.   
     
     
         2 . Skin care composition of  claim 1 , wherein said PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil is present in the skin care composition in an amount of 0.01 to 2.5% (w/w). 
     
     
         3 . Skin care composition of  claim 2 , wherein said PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil is present in the skin care composition in an amount of 0.05 to 1.5% (w/w). 
     
     
         4 . Skin care composition of  claim 3 , wherein said PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil is present in the skin care composition in an amount of 0.5 to 1.0% (w/w). 
     
     
         5 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein said composition does not comprise any other solubilizer except for PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil. 
     
     
         6 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 5 , wherein said composition further comprises an emollient selected from the group consisting of dicaprylyl carbonate, ethylhexyl cocoate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein said composition further comprises a filler selected from the group consisting of distarch phosphate, tapioca starch, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein said composition further comprises a thickener selected from the group consisting of a  Chondrus crispus  extract, hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein said composition further comprises a preservative selected from the group consisting of ethanol, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, methylpropanediol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 9 , wherein said composition further comprises an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of tocopherol, tocopheryl acetate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 10 , wherein said composition further comprises citric acid/citrate buffer as a pH adjuster. 
     
     
         12 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 11 , wherein said at least one  C. acnes  strain is selected from the group consisting of single-locus sequence typing (SLST) type strains D1, A5, C1, C3, H1, H2, H3, K1, K2, K4, K6, K8, K9, L1, and F4. 
     
     
         13 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 12 , wherein said composition comprises lyophilized or spray-dried live bacteria of at least one  C. acnes  SLST type C3 strain. 
     
     
         14 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 12 , wherein said composition comprises lyophilized or spray-dried live bacteria of at least one  C. acnes  SLST type K8 strain. 
     
     
         15 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 12 , wherein said composition comprises lyophilized or spray-dried live bacteria of at least one  C. acnes  SLST type C3 strain and at least one  C. acnes  SLST type K8 strain. 
     
     
         16 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 15 , wherein said composition further comprises lyophilized or spray-dried live bacteria of at least one  C. acnes  SLST type A5 strain. 
     
     
         17 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 16 , wherein said composition further comprises lyophilized or spray-dried live bacteria of at least one  C. acnes  SLST type F4 strain. 
     
     
         18 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 17 , wherein the concentration of each  C. acnes  strain is at least 0.5% (w/v) of the skin care composition. 
     
     
         19 . Skin care composition of any one of  claims 15 - 18 , wherein said at least one  C. acnes  SLST type C3 strain and at least one  C. acnes  SLST type K8 strain are at approximately equal concentrations within the composition. 
     
     
         20 . Skin care composition of any one of  claims 15 - 18 , wherein said at least one  C. acnes  SLST type C3 strain is present at a higher concentration than said at least one  C. acnes  SLST type K8 strain within the composition, or wherein said at least one  C. acnes  SLST type K8 strain is present at a higher concentration than said at least one  C. acnes  SLST type C3 strain within the composition. 
     
     
         21 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 20 , wherein each of the  C. acnes  strains in the composition is present in an amount of 10 4 -10 11  CFU/ml, preferably 10 7 -10 10  CFU/ml. 
     
     
         22 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 20 , wherein the overall amount of bacteria in the composition is 10 4 -10 11  CFU/ml, preferably 10 7 -10 10  CFU/ml. 
     
     
         23 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 22 , wherein said composition is in the form of a gel, cream, ointment or lotion. 
     
     
         24 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 23 , wherein said composition is for use in a method of improving the appearance of the skin of a subject and/or modulating the sebum production of skin cells of a subject and/or maintaining healthy skin of a subject. 
     
     
         25 . Skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 23 , wherein said composition is for use in a method of treating or preventing a condition selected from the group consisting of acne, oily skin, progressive macular hypomelanosis, dandruff, atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis and rosacea in a subject. 
     
     
         26 . A method of improving the appearance of the skin of a subject and/or modulating the sebum production of skin cells of a subject and/or maintaining healthy skin of a subject, said method comprising the topical administration of a skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 23 . 
     
     
         27 . A method of treating or preventing a condition selected from the group consisting of acne, oily skin, progressive macular hypomelanosis, dandruff, atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis and rosacea in a subject, said method comprising the topical administration of a skin care composition of any of  claims 1 - 23 . 
     
     
         28 . The skin care composition for use according to any one of  claim 24  or  25 , or the method of any one of  claims 26 - 27 , wherein said subject is a human.